1
|
Struhl K. How is polyadenylation restricted to 3'-untranslated regions? Yeast 2024; 41:186-191. [PMID: 38041485 PMCID: PMC11001523 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyadenylation occurs at numerous sites within 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) but rarely within coding regions. How does Pol II travel through long coding regions without generating poly(A) sites, yet then permits promiscuous polyadenylation once it reaches the 3'-UTR? The cleavage/polyadenylation (CpA) machinery preferentially associates with 3'-UTRs, but it is unknown how its recruitment is restricted to 3'-UTRs during Pol II elongation. Unlike coding regions, 3'-UTRs have long AT-rich stretches of DNA that may be important for restricting polyadenylation to 3'-UTRs. Recognition of the 3'-UTR could occur at the DNA (AT-rich), RNA (AU-rich), or RNA:DNA hybrid (rU:dA- and/or rA:dT-rich) level. Based on the nucleic acid critical for 3'-UTR recognition, there are three classes of models, not mutually exclusive, for how the CpA machinery is selectively recruited to 3'-UTRs, thereby restricting where polyadenylation occurs: (1) RNA-based models suggest that the CpA complex directly (or indirectly through one or more intermediary proteins) binds long AU-rich stretches that are exposed after Pol II passes through these regions. (2) DNA-based models suggest that the AT-rich sequence affects nucleosome depletion or the elongating Pol II machinery, resulting in dissociation of some elongation factors and subsequent recruitment of the CpA machinery. (3) RNA:DNA hybrid models suggest that preferential destabilization of the Pol II elongation complex at rU:dA- and/or rA:dT-rich duplexes bridging the nucleotide addition and RNA exit sites permits preferential association of the CpA machinery with 3'-UTRs. Experiments to provide evidence for one or more of these models are suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Struhl
- Dept. Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Torres-Ulloa L, Calvo-Roitberg E, Pai AA. Genome-wide kinetic profiling of pre-mRNA 3' end cleavage. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:256-270. [PMID: 38164598 PMCID: PMC10870368 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079783.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cleavage and polyadenylation is necessary for the formation of mature mRNA molecules. The rate at which this process occurs can determine the temporal availability of mRNA for subsequent function throughout the cell and is likely tightly regulated. Despite advances in high-throughput approaches for global kinetic profiling of RNA maturation, genome-wide 3' end cleavage rates have never been measured. Here, we describe a novel approach to estimate the rates of cleavage, using metabolic labeling of nascent RNA, high-throughput sequencing, and mathematical modeling. Using in silico simulations of nascent RNA-seq data, we show that our approach can accurately and precisely estimate cleavage half-lives for both constitutive and alternative sites. We find that 3' end cleavage is fast on average, with half-lives under a minute, but highly variable across individual sites. Rapid cleavage is promoted by the presence of canonical sequence elements and an increased density of polyadenylation signals near a cleavage site. Finally, we find that cleavage rates are associated with the localization of RNA polymerase II at the end of a gene, and faster cleavage leads to quicker degradation of downstream readthrough RNA. Our findings shed light on the features important for efficient 3' end cleavage and the regulation of transcription termination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Torres-Ulloa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| | - Ezequiel Calvo-Roitberg
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| | - Athma A Pai
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Reis-Claro I, Silva MI, Moutinho A, Garcia BC, Pereira-Castro I, Moreira A. Application of the iPLUS non-coding sequence in improving biopharmaceuticals production. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1355957. [PMID: 38380261 PMCID: PMC10876878 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1355957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The biotechnological landscape has witnessed significant growth in biological therapeutics particularly in the field of recombinant protein production. Here we investigate the function of 3'UTR cis-regulatory elements in increasing mRNA and protein levels in different biological therapeutics and model systems, spanning from monoclonal antibodies to mRNA vaccines. We explore the regulatory function of iPLUS - a universal sequence capable of consistently augmenting recombinant protein levels. By incorporating iPLUS in a vector to express a monoclonal antibody used in immunotherapy, in a mammalian cell line used by the industry (ExpiCHO), trastuzumab production increases by 2-fold. As yeast Pichia pastoris is widely used in the manufacture of industrial enzymes and pharmaceuticals, we then used iPLUS in tandem (3x) and iPLUSv2 (a variant of iPLUS) to provide proof-of-concept data that it increases the production of a reporter protein more than 100-fold. As iPLUS functions by also increasing mRNA levels, we hypothesize that these sequences could be used as an asset in the mRNA vaccine industry. In fact, by including iPLUSv2 downstream of Spike we were able to double its production. Moreover, the same effect was observed when we introduced iPLUSv2 downstream of MAGEC2, a tumor-specific antigen tested for cancer mRNA vaccines. Taken together, our study provides data (TLR4) showing that iPLUS may be used as a valuable asset in a variety of systems used by the biotech and biopharmaceutical industry. Our results underscore the critical role of non-coding sequences in controlling gene expression, offering a promising avenue to accelerate, enhance, and cost-effectively optimize biopharmaceutical production processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Reis-Claro
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Inês Silva
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Moutinho
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Beatriz C. Garcia
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira-Castro
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Moreira
- Gene Regulation, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dunn LEM, Birkenheuer CH, Baines JD. A Revision of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Transcription: First, Repress; Then, Express. Microorganisms 2024; 12:262. [PMID: 38399666 PMCID: PMC10892140 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The herpes virus genome bears more than 80 strong transcriptional promoters. Upon entry into the host cell nucleus, these genes are transcribed in an orderly manner, producing five immediate-early (IE) gene products, including ICP0, ICP4, and ICP22, while non-IE genes are mostly silent. The IE gene products are necessary for the transcription of temporal classes following sequentially as early, leaky late, and true late. A recent analysis using precision nuclear run-on followed by deep sequencing (PRO-seq) has revealed an important step preceding all HSV-1 transcription. Specifically, the immediate-early proteins ICP4 and ICP0 enter the cell with the incoming genome to help preclude the nascent antisense, intergenic, and sense transcription of all viral genes. VP16, which is also delivered into the nucleus upon entry, almost immediately reverses this repression on IE genes. The resulting de novo expression of ICP4 and ICP22 further repress antisense, intergenic, and early and late viral gene transcription through different mechanisms before the sequential de-repression of these gene classes later in infection. This early repression, termed transient immediate-early protein-mediated repression (TIEMR), precludes unproductive, antisense, intergenic, and late gene transcription early in infection to ensure the efficient and orderly progression of the viral cascade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E M Dunn
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Claire H Birkenheuer
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Joel D Baines
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Khitun A, Brion C, Moqtaderi Z, Geisberg JV, Churchman LS, Struhl K. Elongation rate of RNA polymerase II affects pausing patterns across 3' UTRs. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105289. [PMID: 37748648 PMCID: PMC10598743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Yeast mRNAs are polyadenylated at multiple sites in their 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs), and poly(A) site usage is regulated by the rate of transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Slow Pol II derivatives favor upstream poly(A) sites, and fast Pol II derivatives favor downstream poly(A) sites. Transcriptional elongation and polyadenylation are linked at the nucleotide level, presumably reflecting Pol II dwell time at each residue that influences the level of polyadenylation. Here, we investigate the effect of Pol II elongation rate on pausing patterns and the relationship between Pol II pause sites and poly(A) sites within 3' UTRs. Mutations that affect Pol II elongation rate alter sequence preferences at pause sites within 3' UTRs, and pausing preferences differ between 3' UTRs and coding regions. In addition, sequences immediately flanking the pause sites show preferences that are largely independent of Pol II speed. In wild-type cells, poly(A) sites are preferentially located < 50 nucleotides upstream from Pol II pause sites, but this spatial relationship is diminished in cells harboring Pol II speed mutants. Based on a random forest classifier, Pol II pause sites are modestly predicted by the distance to poly(A) sites but are better predicted by the chromatin landscape in Pol II speed derivatives. Transcriptional regulatory proteins can influence the relationship between Pol II pausing and polyadenylation but in a manner distinct from Pol II elongation rate derivatives. These results indicate a complex relationship between Pol II pausing and polyadenylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Khitun
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christian Brion
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zarmik Moqtaderi
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph V Geisberg
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kevin Struhl
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zuniga G, Frost B. Selective neuronal vulnerability to deficits in RNA processing. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 229:102500. [PMID: 37454791 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that errors in RNA processing can causally drive neurodegeneration. Given that RNA produced from expressed genes of all cell types undergoes processing (splicing, polyadenylation, 5' capping, etc.), the particular vulnerability of neurons to deficits in RNA processing calls for careful consideration. The activity-dependent transcriptome remodeling associated with synaptic plasticity in neurons requires rapid, multilevel post-transcriptional RNA processing events that provide additional opportunities for dysregulation and consequent introduction or persistence of errors in RNA transcripts. Here we review the accumulating evidence that neurons have an enhanced propensity for errors in RNA processing alongside grossly insufficient defenses to clear misprocessed RNA compared to other cell types. Additionally, we explore how tau, a microtubule-associated protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, contributes to deficits in RNA processing and clearance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Zuniga
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Bess Frost
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Figueiredo AS, Loureiro JR, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Silveira I. Advances in Nucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases: Transcription Gets in Phase. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060826. [PMID: 36980167 PMCID: PMC10047669 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Unstable DNA repeat expansions and insertions have been found to cause more than 50 neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuromuscular disorders. One of the main hallmarks of repeat expansion diseases is the formation of abnormal RNA or protein aggregates in the neuronal cells of affected individuals. Recent evidence indicates that alterations of the dynamic or material properties of biomolecular condensates assembled by liquid/liquid phase separation are critical for the formation of these aggregates. This is a thermodynamically-driven and reversible local phenomenon that condenses macromolecules into liquid-like compartments responsible for compartmentalizing molecules required for vital cellular processes. Disease-associated repeat expansions modulate the phase separation properties of RNAs and proteins, interfering with the composition and/or the material properties of biomolecular condensates and resulting in the formation of abnormal aggregates. Since several repeat expansions have arisen in genes encoding crucial players in transcription, this raises the hypothesis that wide gene expression dysregulation is common to multiple repeat expansion diseases. This review will cover the impact of these mutations in the formation of aberrant aggregates and how they modify gene transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana S. Figueiredo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana R. Loureiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Silveira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-2240-8800
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Boumpas P, Merabet S, Carnesecchi J. Integrating transcription and splicing into cell fate: Transcription factors on the block. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1752. [PMID: 35899407 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are present in all life forms and conserved across great evolutionary distances in eukaryotes. From yeast to complex multicellular organisms, they are pivotal players of cell fate decision by orchestrating gene expression at diverse molecular layers. Notably, TFs fine-tune gene expression by coordinating RNA fate at both the expression and splicing levels. They regulate alternative splicing, an essential mechanism for cell plasticity, allowing the production of many mRNA and protein isoforms in precise cell and tissue contexts. Despite this apparent role in splicing, how TFs integrate transcription and splicing to ultimately orchestrate diverse cell functions and cell fate decisions remains puzzling. We depict substantial studies in various model organisms underlining the key role of TFs in alternative splicing for promoting tissue-specific functions and cell fate. Furthermore, we emphasize recent advances describing the molecular link between the transcriptional and splicing activities of TFs. As TFs can bind both DNA and/or RNA to regulate transcription and splicing, we further discuss their flexibility and compatibility for DNA and RNA substrates. Finally, we propose several models integrating transcription and splicing activities of TFs in the coordination and diversification of cell and tissue identities. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Boumpas
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, UMR5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Samir Merabet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, UMR5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Julie Carnesecchi
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, UMR5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kowalski MH, Wessels HH, Linder J, Choudhary S, Hartman A, Hao Y, Mascio I, Dalgarno C, Kundaje A, Satija R. CPA-Perturb-seq: Multiplexed single-cell characterization of alternative polyadenylation regulators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.09.527751. [PMID: 36798324 PMCID: PMC9934614 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.09.527751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Most mammalian genes have multiple polyA sites, representing a substantial source of transcript diversity that is governed by the cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) regulatory machinery. To better understand how these proteins govern polyA site choice we introduce CPA-Perturb-seq, a multiplexed perturbation screen dataset of 42 known CPA regulators with a 3' scRNA-seq readout that enables transcriptome-wide inference of polyA site usage. We develop a statistical framework to specifically identify perturbation-dependent changes in intronic and tandem polyadenylation, and discover modules of co-regulated polyA sites exhibiting distinct functional properties. By training a multi-task deep neural network (APARENT-Perturb) on our dataset, we delineate a cis-regulatory code that predicts responsiveness to perturbation and reveals interactions between distinct regulatory complexes. Finally, we leverage our framework to re-analyze published scRNA-seq datasets, identifying new regulators that affect the relative abundance of alternatively polyadenylated transcripts, and characterizing extensive cellular heterogeneity in 3' UTR length amongst antibody-producing cells. Our work highlights the potential for multiplexed single-cell perturbation screens to further our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline H. Kowalski
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hans-Hermann Wessels
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Johannes Linder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford USA
| | - Saket Choudhary
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Yuhan Hao
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabella Mascio
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford USA
| | - Rahul Satija
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hao Y, Cai T, Liu C, Zhang X, Fu XD. Sequential Polyadenylation to Enable Alternative mRNA 3' End Formation. Mol Cells 2023; 46:57-64. [PMID: 36697238 PMCID: PMC9880608 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2023.2176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, a key RNA processing step to generate mature mRNA is the coupled reaction for cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) at the 3' end of individual transcripts. Many transcripts are alternatively polyadenylated (APA) to produce mRNAs with different 3' ends that may either alter protein coding sequence (CDS-APA) or create different lengths of 3'UTR (tandem-APA). As the CPA reaction is intimately associated with transcriptional termination, it has been widely assumed that APA is regulated cotranscriptionally. Isoforms terminated at different regions may have distinct RNA stability under different conditions, thus altering the ratio of APA isoforms. Such differential impacts on different isoforms have been considered as post-transcriptional APA, but strictly speaking, this can only be considered "apparent" APA, as the choice is not made during the CPA reaction. Interestingly, a recent study reveals sequential APA as a new mechanism for post-transcriptional APA. This minireview will focus on this new mechanism to provide insights into various documented regulatory paradigms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Hao
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ting Cai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Xiang-Dong Fu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Present address: Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gallicchio L, Olivares GH, Berry CW, Fuller MT. Regulation and function of alternative polyadenylation in development and differentiation. RNA Biol 2023; 20:908-925. [PMID: 37906624 PMCID: PMC10730144 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2275109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative processing of nascent mRNAs is widespread in eukaryotic organisms and greatly impacts the output of gene expression. Specifically, alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) is a co-transcriptional molecular process that switches the polyadenylation site (PAS) at which a nascent mRNA is cleaved, resulting in mRNA isoforms with different 3'UTR length and content. APA can potentially affect mRNA translation efficiency, localization, stability, and mRNA seeded protein-protein interactions. APA naturally occurs during development and cellular differentiation, with around 70% of human genes displaying APA in particular tissues and cell types. For example, neurons tend to express mRNAs with long 3'UTRs due to preferential processing at PASs more distal than other PASs used in other cell types. In addition, changes in APA mark a variety of pathological states, including many types of cancer, in which mRNAs are preferentially cleaved at more proximal PASs, causing expression of mRNA isoforms with short 3'UTRs. Although APA has been widely reported, both the function of APA in development and the mechanisms that regulate the choice of 3'end cut sites in normal and pathogenic conditions are still poorly understood. In this review, we summarize current understanding of how APA is regulated during development and cellular differentiation and how the resulting change in 3'UTR content affects multiple aspects of gene expression. With APA being a widespread phenomenon, the advent of cutting-edge scientific techniques and the pressing need for in-vivo studies, there has never been a better time to delve into the intricate mechanisms of alternative cleavage and polyadenylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Gallicchio
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Gonzalo H. Olivares
- Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Center for Integrative Biology (CIB), Universidad Mayor, Chile and Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Margaret T. Fuller
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mitschka S, Mayr C. Context-specific regulation and function of mRNA alternative polyadenylation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:779-796. [PMID: 35798852 PMCID: PMC9261900 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00507-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) is a widespread mechanism to generate mRNA isoforms with alternative 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). The expression of alternative 3' UTR isoforms is highly cell type specific and is further controlled in a gene-specific manner by environmental cues. In this Review, we discuss how the dynamic, fine-grained regulation of APA is accomplished by several mechanisms, including cis-regulatory elements in RNA and DNA and factors that control transcription, pre-mRNA cleavage and post-transcriptional processes. Furthermore, signalling pathways modulate the activity of these factors and integrate APA into gene regulatory programmes. Dysregulation of APA can reprogramme the outcome of signalling pathways and thus can control cellular responses to environmental changes. In addition to the regulation of protein abundance, APA has emerged as a major regulator of mRNA localization and the spatial organization of protein synthesis. This role enables the regulation of protein function through the addition of post-translational modifications or the formation of protein-protein interactions. We further discuss recent transformative advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and CRISPR-Cas technologies, which enable the mapping and functional characterization of alternative 3' UTRs in any biological context. Finally, we discuss new APA-based RNA therapeutics, including compounds that target APA in cancer and therapeutic genome editing of degenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Mitschka
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine Mayr
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tang P, Zhou Y. Alternative polyadenylation regulation: insights from sequential polyadenylation. Transcription 2022; 13:89-95. [PMID: 36004392 PMCID: PMC9715272 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2022.2114776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The processing of the proximal and distal poly(A) sites in alternative polyadenylation (APA) has long been thought to independently occur on pre-mRNAs during transcription. However, a recent study by our groups demonstrated that the proximal sites for many genes could be activated sequentially following the distal ones, suggesting a multi-cleavage-same-transcript mode beyond the canonical one-cleavage-per-transcript view. Here, we review the established mechanisms for APA regulation and then discuss the additional insights into APA regulation from the perspective of sequential polyadenylation, resulting in a unified leverage model for understanding the mechanisms of regulated APA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, RNA Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, RNA Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li Z, Li Y, Zhang B, Li Y, Long Y, Zhou J, Zou X, Zhang M, Hu Y, Chen W, Gao X. DeeReCT-APA: Prediction of Alternative Polyadenylation Site Usage Through Deep Learning. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 20:483-495. [PMID: 33662629 PMCID: PMC9801043 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a crucial step in post-transcriptional regulation. Previous bioinformatic studies have mainly focused on the recognition of polyadenylation sites (PASs) in a given genomic sequence, which is a binary classification problem. Recently, computational methods for predicting the usage level of alternative PASs in the same gene have been proposed. However, all of them cast the problem as a non-quantitative pairwise comparison task and do not take the competition among multiple PASs into account. To address this, here we propose a deep learning architecture, Deep Regulatory Code and Tools for Alternative Polyadenylation (DeeReCT-APA), to quantitatively predict the usage of all alternative PASs of a given gene. To accommodate different genes with potentially different numbers of PASs, DeeReCT-APA treats the problem as a regression task with a variable-length target. Based on a convolutional neural network-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) architecture, DeeReCT-APA extracts sequence features with CNN layers, uses bidirectional LSTM to explicitly model the interactions among competing PASs, and outputs percentage scores representing the usage levels of all PASs of a gene. In addition to the fact that only our method can quantitatively predict the usage of all the PASs within a gene, we show that our method consistently outperforms other existing methods on three different tasks for which they are trained: pairwise comparison task, highest usage prediction task, and ranking task. Finally, we demonstrate that our method can be used to predict the effect of genetic variations on APA patterns and sheds light on future mechanistic understanding in APA regulation. Our code and data are available at https://github.com/lzx325/DeeReCT-APA-repo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxiao Li
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yisheng Li
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Yu Li
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yongkang Long
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia,Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Juexiao Zhou
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xudong Zou
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuhui Hu
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen 518055, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Xin Gao
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia,Corresponding authors.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Pereira-Castro I, Garcia BC, Curinha A, Neves-Costa A, Conde-Sousa E, Moita LF, Moreira A. MCL1 alternative polyadenylation is essential for cell survival and mitochondria morphology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:164. [PMID: 35229202 PMCID: PMC11072748 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04172-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation in the 3' UTR (3' UTR-APA) is a mode of gene expression regulation, fundamental for mRNA stability, translation and localization. In the immune system, it was shown that upon T cell activation, there is an increase in the relative expression of mRNA isoforms with short 3' UTRs resulting from 3' UTR-APA. However, the functional significance of 3' UTR-APA remains largely unknown. Here, we studied the physiological function of 3' UTR-APA in the regulation of Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL1), an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family essential for T cell survival. We found that T cells produce two MCL1 mRNA isoforms (pA1 and pA2) by 3' UTR-APA. We show that upon T cell activation, there is an increase in both the shorter pA1 mRNA isoform and MCL1 protein levels. Moreover, the less efficiently translated pA2 isoform is downregulated by miR-17, which is also more expressed upon T cell activation. Therefore, by increasing the expression of the more efficiently translated pA1 mRNA isoform, which escapes regulation by miR-17, 3' UTR-APA fine tunes MCL1 protein levels, critical for activated T cells' survival. Furthermore, using CRISPR/Cas9-edited cells, we show that depletion of either pA1 or pA2 mRNA isoforms causes severe defects in mitochondria morphology, increases apoptosis and impacts cell proliferation. Collectively, our results show that MCL1 alternative polyadenylation has a key role in the regulation of MCL1 protein levels upon T cell activation and reveal an essential function for MCL1 3' UTR-APA in cell viability and mitochondria dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pereira-Castro
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Gene Regulation, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular E Celular, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Beatriz C Garcia
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Gene Regulation, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular E Celular, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Curinha
- Gene Regulation, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular E Celular, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Eduardo Conde-Sousa
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís F Moita
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Moreira
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Gene Regulation, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular E Celular, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Alternative polyadenylation by sequential activation of distal and proximal PolyA sites. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:21-31. [PMID: 35013598 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00709-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Analogous to alternative splicing, alternative polyadenylation (APA) has long been thought to occur independently at proximal and distal polyA sites. Using fractionation-seq, we unexpectedly identified several hundred APA genes in human cells whose distal polyA isoforms are retained in chromatin/nuclear matrix and whose proximal polyA isoforms are released into the cytoplasm. Global metabolic PAS-seq and Nanopore long-read RNA-sequencing provide further evidence that the strong distal polyA sites are processed first and the resulting transcripts are subsequently anchored in chromatin/nuclear matrix to serve as precursors for further processing at proximal polyA sites. Inserting an autocleavable ribozyme between the proximal and distal polyA sites, coupled with a Cleave-seq approach that we describe here, confirms that the distal polyA isoform is indeed the precursor to the proximal polyA isoform. Therefore, unlike alternative splicing, APA sites are recognized independently, and in many cases, in a sequential manner. This provides a versatile strategy to regulate gene expression in mammalian cells.
Collapse
|
17
|
Seeking a Role for Translational Control by Alternative Polyadenylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091885. [PMID: 34576779 PMCID: PMC8464734 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) represents an important mechanism for regulating isoform-specific translation efficiency, stability, and localisation. Though some progress has been made in understanding its consequences in metazoans, the role of APA in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae remains a relative mystery because, despite abundant studies on the translational state of mRNA, none differentiate mRNA isoforms’ alternative 3′-end. This review discusses the implications of alternative polyadenylation in S. cerevisiae using other organisms to draw inferences. Given the foundational role that research in this yeast has played in the discovery of the mechanisms of cleavage and polyadenylation and in the drivers of APA, it is surprising that such an inference is required. However, because advances in ribosome profiling are insensitive to APA, how it impacts translation is still unclear. To bridge the gap between widespread observed APA and the discovery of any functional consequence, we also provide a review of the experimental techniques used to uncover the functional importance of 3′ UTR isoforms on translation.
Collapse
|
18
|
Muniz L, Nicolas E, Trouche D. RNA polymerase II speed: a key player in controlling and adapting transcriptome composition. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105740. [PMID: 34254686 PMCID: PMC8327950 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) speed or elongation rate, i.e., the number of nucleotides synthesized per unit of time, is a major determinant of transcriptome composition. It controls co‐transcriptional processes such as splicing, polyadenylation, and transcription termination, thus regulating the production of alternative splice variants, circular RNAs, alternatively polyadenylated transcripts, or read‐through transcripts. RNA Pol II speed itself is regulated in response to intra‐ and extra‐cellular stimuli and can in turn affect the transcriptome composition in response to these stimuli. Evidence points to a potentially important role of transcriptome composition modification through RNA Pol II speed regulation for adaptation of cells to a changing environment, thus pointing to a function of RNA Pol II speed regulation in cellular physiology. Analyzing RNA Pol II speed dynamics may therefore be central to fully understand the regulation of physiological processes, such as the development of multicellular organisms. Recent findings also raise the possibility that RNA Pol II speed deregulation can be detrimental and participate in disease progression. Here, we review initial and current approaches to measure RNA Pol II speed, as well as providing an overview of the factors controlling speed and the co‐transcriptional processes which are affected. Finally, we discuss the role of RNA Pol II speed regulation in cell physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Muniz
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Estelle Nicolas
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Didier Trouche
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Turner RE, Harrison PF, Swaminathan A, Kraupner-Taylor CA, Goldie BJ, See M, Peterson AL, Schittenhelm RB, Powell DR, Creek DJ, Dichtl B, Beilharz TH. Genetic and pharmacological evidence for kinetic competition between alternative poly(A) sites in yeast. eLife 2021; 10:65331. [PMID: 34232857 PMCID: PMC8263057 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Most eukaryotic mRNAs accommodate alternative sites of poly(A) addition in the 3’ untranslated region in order to regulate mRNA function. Here, we present a systematic analysis of 3’ end formation factors, which revealed 3’UTR lengthening in response to a loss of the core machinery, whereas a loss of the Sen1 helicase resulted in shorter 3’UTRs. We show that the anti-cancer drug cordycepin, 3’ deoxyadenosine, caused nucleotide accumulation and the usage of distal poly(A) sites. Mycophenolic acid, a drug which reduces GTP levels and impairs RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) transcription elongation, promoted the usage of proximal sites and reversed the effects of cordycepin on alternative polyadenylation. Moreover, cordycepin-mediated usage of distal sites was associated with a permissive chromatin template and was suppressed in the presence of an rpb1 mutation, which slows RNAP II elongation rate. We propose that alternative polyadenylation is governed by temporal coordination of RNAP II transcription and 3’ end processing and controlled by the availability of 3’ end factors, nucleotide levels and chromatin landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Emily Turner
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul F Harrison
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Angavai Swaminathan
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Calvin A Kraupner-Taylor
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Belinda J Goldie
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael See
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amanda L Peterson
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ralf B Schittenhelm
- Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David R Powell
- Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Darren J Creek
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Bernhard Dichtl
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Traude H Beilharz
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ogorodnikov A, Danckwardt S. TRENDseq-A highly multiplexed high throughput RNA 3' end sequencing for mapping alternative polyadenylation. Methods Enzymol 2021; 655:37-72. [PMID: 34183130 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a widespread and highly dynamic mechanism of gene regulation. It affects more than 70% of all genes, resulting in transcript isoforms with distinct 3' end termini. APA thereby considerably expands the diversity of the transcriptome 3' end (TREND). This leads to mRNA isoforms with profoundly different physiological effects, by affecting protein output, production of distinct protein isoforms, or modulating protein localization. APA is globally regulated in various conditions, including developmental and adaptive programs. Since perturbations of APA can disrupt biological processes, ultimately resulting in most devastating disorders, querying the APA landscape is crucial to decipher underlying mechanisms, resulting consequences and potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Here we provide a detailed step-by-step protocol for TRENDseq, a method for transcriptome-wide high-throughput sequencing of polyadenylated RNA 3' ends in a highly multiplexed fashion. TRENDseq exploits linear amplification of the starting material to improve sensitivity while significantly reducing the amount of input material. It thereby represents a powerful tool to study APA in numerous experimental set-ups and/or limited human samples in a highly multiplexed and reproducible manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton Ogorodnikov
- Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Centre for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Danckwardt
- Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Centre for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sommerkamp P, Cabezas-Wallscheid N, Trumpp A. Alternative Polyadenylation in Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:660-672. [PMID: 33985920 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cellular function is shaped by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, including alternative polyadenylation (APA). By directly controlling 3'- untranslated region (UTR) length and the selection of the last exon, APA regulates up to 70% of all cellular transcripts influencing RNA stability, output, and protein isoform expression. Cell-state-dependent 3'-UTR shortening has been identified as a hallmark of cellular proliferation. Hence, quiescent/dormant stem cells are characterized by long 3'-UTRs, whereas proliferative stem/progenitor cells exhibit 3'-UTR shortening. Here, the latest studies analyzing the role of APA in regulating stem cell state, self-renewal, differentiation, and metabolism are reviewed. The new role of APA in controlling stem cell fate opens novel potential therapeutic avenues in the field of regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Sommerkamp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Liu J, Hansen D, Eck E, Kim YJ, Turner M, Alamos S, Garcia HG. Real-time single-cell characterization of the eukaryotic transcription cycle reveals correlations between RNA initiation, elongation, and cleavage. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008999. [PMID: 34003867 PMCID: PMC8162642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic transcription cycle consists of three main steps: initiation, elongation, and cleavage of the nascent RNA transcript. Although each of these steps can be regulated as well as coupled with each other, their in vivo dissection has remained challenging because available experimental readouts lack sufficient spatiotemporal resolution to separate the contributions from each of these steps. Here, we describe a novel application of Bayesian inference techniques to simultaneously infer the effective parameters of the transcription cycle in real time and at the single-cell level using a two-color MS2/PP7 reporter gene and the developing fruit fly embryo as a case study. Our method enables detailed investigations into cell-to-cell variability in transcription-cycle parameters as well as single-cell correlations between these parameters. These measurements, combined with theoretical modeling, suggest a substantial variability in the elongation rate of individual RNA polymerase molecules. We further illustrate the power of this technique by uncovering a novel mechanistic connection between RNA polymerase density and nascent RNA cleavage efficiency. Thus, our approach makes it possible to shed light on the regulatory mechanisms in play during each step of the transcription cycle in individual, living cells at high spatiotemporal resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Liu
- Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Donald Hansen
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Eck
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Yang Joon Kim
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Meghan Turner
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Simon Alamos
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Hernan G. Garcia
- Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences-QB3, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Conserved long-range base pairings are associated with pre-mRNA processing of human genes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2300. [PMID: 33863890 PMCID: PMC8052449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22549-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of nucleic acids to form double-stranded structures is essential for all living systems on Earth. Current knowledge on functional RNA structures is focused on locally-occurring base pairs. However, crosslinking and proximity ligation experiments demonstrated that long-range RNA structures are highly abundant. Here, we present the most complete to-date catalog of conserved complementary regions (PCCRs) in human protein-coding genes. PCCRs tend to occur within introns, suppress intervening exons, and obstruct cryptic and inactive splice sites. Double-stranded structure of PCCRs is supported by decreased icSHAPE nucleotide accessibility, high abundance of RNA editing sites, and frequent occurrence of forked eCLIP peaks. Introns with PCCRs show a distinct splicing pattern in response to RNAPII slowdown suggesting that splicing is widely affected by co-transcriptional RNA folding. The enrichment of 3'-ends within PCCRs raises the intriguing hypothesis that coupling between RNA folding and splicing could mediate co-transcriptional suppression of premature pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation.
Collapse
|
24
|
Pereira-Castro I, Moreira A. On the function and relevance of alternative 3'-UTRs in gene expression regulation. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1653. [PMID: 33843145 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Messanger RNA (mRNA) isoforms with alternative 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) are produced by alternative polyadenylation (APA), which occurs during transcription in most eukaryotic genes. APA fine-tunes gene expression in a cell-type- and cellular state-dependent manner. Selection of an APA site entails the binding of core cleavage and polyadenylation factors to a particular polyadenylation site localized in the pre-mRNA and is controlled by multiple regulatory determinants, including transcription, pre-mRNA cis-regulatory sequences, and protein factors. Alternative 3'-UTRs serve as platforms for specific RNA binding proteins and microRNAs, which regulate gene expression in a coordinated manner by controlling mRNA fate and function in the cell. Genome-wide studies illustrated the full extent of APA prevalence and revealed that specific 3'-UTR profiles are associated with particular cellular states and diseases. Generally, short 3'-UTRs are associated with proliferative and cancer cells, and long 3'-UTRs are mostly found in polarized and differentiated cells. Fundamental new insights on the physiological consequences of this widespread event and the molecular mechanisms involved have been revealed through single-cell studies. Publicly available comprehensive databases that cover all APA mRNA isoforms identified in many cellular states and diseases reveal specific APA signatures. Therapies tackling APA mRNA isoforms or APA regulators may be regarded as innovative and attractive tools for diagnostics or treatment of several pathologies. We highlight the function of APA and alternative 3'-UTRs in gene expression regulation, the control of these mechanisms, their physiological consequences, and their potential use as new biomarkers and therapeutic tools. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pereira-Castro
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Moreira
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Marini F, Scherzinger D, Danckwardt S. TREND-DB-a transcriptome-wide atlas of the dynamic landscape of alternative polyadenylation. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:D243-D253. [PMID: 32976578 PMCID: PMC7778938 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) profoundly expands the transcriptome complexity. Perturbations of APA can disrupt biological processes, ultimately resulting in devastating disorders. A major challenge in identifying mechanisms and consequences of APA (and its perturbations) lies in the complexity of RNA 3′ end processing, involving poorly conserved RNA motifs and multi-component complexes consisting of far more than 50 proteins. This is further complicated in that RNA 3′ end maturation is closely linked to transcription, RNA processing and even epigenetic (histone/DNA/RNA) modifications. Here, we present TREND-DB (http://shiny.imbei.uni-mainz.de:3838/trend-db), a resource cataloging the dynamic landscape of APA after depletion of >170 proteins involved in various facets of transcriptional, co- and post-transcriptional gene regulation, epigenetic modifications and further processes. TREND-DB visualizes the dynamics of transcriptome 3′ end diversification (TREND) in a highly interactive manner; it provides a global APA network map and allows interrogating genes affected by specific APA-regulators and vice versa. It also permits condition-specific functional enrichment analyses of APA-affected genes, which suggest wide biological and clinical relevance across all RNAi conditions. The implementation of the UCSC Genome Browser provides additional customizable layers of gene regulation accounting for individual transcript isoforms (e.g. epigenetics, miRNA-binding sites and RNA-binding proteins). TREND-DB thereby fosters disentangling the role of APA for various biological programs, including potential disease mechanisms, and helps identify their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Marini
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.,Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Denise Scherzinger
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Danckwardt
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.,Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation, Cancer Research and Experimental Hemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Rhine-Main, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Grozdanov PN, Masoumzadeh E, Kalscheuer VM, Bienvenu T, Billuart P, Delrue MA, Latham MP, MacDonald CC. A missense mutation in the CSTF2 gene that impairs the function of the RNA recognition motif and causes defects in 3' end processing is associated with intellectual disability in humans. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:9804-9821. [PMID: 32816001 PMCID: PMC7515730 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
CSTF2 encodes an RNA-binding protein that is essential for mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation (C/P). No disease-associated mutations have been described for this gene. Here, we report a mutation in the RNA recognition motif (RRM) of CSTF2 that changes an aspartic acid at position 50 to alanine (p.D50A), resulting in intellectual disability in male patients. In mice, this mutation was sufficient to alter polyadenylation sites in over 1300 genes critical for brain development. Using a reporter gene assay, we demonstrated that C/P efficiency of CSTF2D50A was lower than wild type. To account for this, we determined that p.D50A changed locations of amino acid side chains altering RNA binding sites in the RRM. The changes modified the electrostatic potential of the RRM leading to a greater affinity for RNA. These results highlight the significance of 3′ end mRNA processing in expression of genes important for brain plasticity and neuronal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petar N Grozdanov
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6540, USA
| | - Elahe Masoumzadeh
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA
| | - Vera M Kalscheuer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Research Group Development and Disease, Ihnestr. 63-73, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thierry Bienvenu
- Institut de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences de Paris, Inserm U1266, 102 rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Billuart
- Institut de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences de Paris, Inserm U1266, 102 rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Ange Delrue
- Département de Génétique Médicale, CHU Sainte Justine, Montréal, Canada
| | - Michael P Latham
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA
| | - Clinton C MacDonald
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6540, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wei L, Lee S, Majumdar S, Zhang B, Sanfilippo P, Joseph B, Miura P, Soller M, Lai EC. Overlapping Activities of ELAV/Hu Family RNA Binding Proteins Specify the Extended Neuronal 3' UTR Landscape in Drosophila. Mol Cell 2020; 80:140-155.e6. [PMID: 33007254 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The tissue-specific deployment of highly extended neural 3' UTR isoforms, generated by alternative polyadenylation (APA), is a broad and conserved feature of metazoan genomes. However, the factors and mechanisms that control neural APA isoforms are not well understood. Here, we show that three ELAV/Hu RNA binding proteins (Elav, Rbp9, and Fne) have similar capacities to induce a lengthened 3' UTR landscape in an ectopic setting. These factors promote accumulation of chromatin-associated, 3' UTR-extended, nascent transcripts, through inhibition of proximal polyadenylation site (PAS) usage. Notably, Elav represses an unannotated splice isoform of fne, switching the normally cytoplasmic Fne toward the nucleus in elav mutants. We use genomic profiling to reveal strong and broad loss of neural APA in elav/fne double mutant CNS, the first genetic background to largely abrogate this distinct APA signature. Overall, we demonstrate how regulatory interplay and functionally overlapping activities of neural ELAV/Hu RBPs drives the neural APA landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wei
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Seungjae Lee
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sonali Majumdar
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Binglong Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Piero Sanfilippo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA; Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brian Joseph
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA; Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Pedro Miura
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Matthias Soller
- School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Eric C Lai
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Slobodin B, Dikstein R. So close, no matter how far: multiple paths connecting transcription to mRNA translation in eukaryotes. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e50799. [PMID: 32803873 PMCID: PMC7507372 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription of DNA into mRNA and translation of mRNA into proteins are two major processes underlying gene expression. Due to the distinct molecular mechanisms, timings, and locales of action, these processes are mainly considered to be independent. During the last two decades, however, multiple factors and elements were shown to coordinate transcription and translation, suggesting an intricate level of synchronization. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms that impact both processes in eukaryotic cells of different origins. The emerging global picture suggests evolutionarily conserved regulation and coordination between transcription and mRNA translation, indicating the importance of this phenomenon for the fine-tuning of gene expression and the adjustment to constantly changing conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boris Slobodin
- Department of Biomolecular SciencesThe Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Rivka Dikstein
- Department of Biomolecular SciencesThe Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Yague-Sanz C, Vanrobaeys Y, Fernandez R, Duval M, Larochelle M, Beaudoin J, Berro J, Labbé S, Jacques PÉ, Bachand F. Nutrient-dependent control of RNA polymerase II elongation rate regulates specific gene expression programs by alternative polyadenylation. Genes Dev 2020; 34:883-897. [PMID: 32499400 PMCID: PMC7328516 DOI: 10.1101/gad.337212.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study from Yague-Sanz et al., the authors investigated the physiological relevance of variations in RNAPII elongation kinetics, and show in yeast that a RNAPII mutant that reduces the transcription elongation rate causes widespread changes in alternative polyadenylation (APA). Their findings indicate that RNAPII is a sensor of nucleotide availability and that genes important for nucleotide pool maintenance have adopted regulatory mechanisms responsive to reduced rates of transcription elongation. Transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is a dynamic process with frequent variations in the elongation rate. However, the physiological relevance of variations in RNAPII elongation kinetics has remained unclear. Here we show in yeast that a RNAPII mutant that reduces the transcription elongation rate causes widespread changes in alternative polyadenylation (APA). We unveil two mechanisms by which APA affects gene expression in the slow mutant: 3′ UTR shortening and gene derepression by premature transcription termination of upstream interfering noncoding RNAs. Strikingly, the genes affected by these mechanisms are enriched for functions involved in phosphate uptake and purine synthesis, processes essential for maintenance of the intracellular nucleotide pool. As nucleotide concentration regulates transcription elongation, our findings argue that RNAPII is a sensor of nucleotide availability and that genes important for nucleotide pool maintenance have adopted regulatory mechanisms responsive to reduced rates of transcription elongation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Yague-Sanz
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Yann Vanrobaeys
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Ronan Fernandez
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Maxime Duval
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Marc Larochelle
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Jude Beaudoin
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Julien Berro
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Simon Labbé
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | | | - François Bachand
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Nourse J, Spada S, Danckwardt S. Emerging Roles of RNA 3'-end Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Disorders. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060915. [PMID: 32560344 PMCID: PMC7356254 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A crucial feature of gene expression involves RNA processing to produce 3′ ends through a process termed 3′ end cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA). This ensures the nascent RNA molecule can exit the nucleus and be translated to ultimately give rise to a protein which can execute a function. Further, alternative polyadenylation (APA) can produce distinct transcript isoforms, profoundly expanding the complexity of the transcriptome. CPA is carried out by multi-component protein complexes interacting with multiple RNA motifs and is tightly coupled to transcription, other steps of RNA processing, and even epigenetic modifications. CPA and APA contribute to the maintenance of a multitude of diverse physiological processes. It is therefore not surprising that disruptions of CPA and APA can lead to devastating disorders. Here, we review potential CPA and APA mechanisms involving both loss and gain of function that can have tremendous impacts on health and disease. Ultimately we highlight the emerging diagnostic and therapeutic potential CPA and APA offer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Nourse
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefano Spada
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Danckwardt
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Rhine-Main, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chakrabarti M, de Lorenzo L, Abdel-Ghany SE, Reddy ASN, Hunt AG. Wide-ranging transcriptome remodelling mediated by alternative polyadenylation in response to abiotic stresses in Sorghum. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:916-930. [PMID: 31909843 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulates diverse developmental and physiological processes through its effects on gene expression, mRNA stability, translatability, and transport. Sorghum is a major cereal crop in the world and, despite its importance, not much is known about the role of post-transcriptional regulation in mediating responses to abiotic stresses in Sorghum. A genome-wide APA analysis unveiled widespread occurrence of APA in Sorghum in response to drought, heat, and salt stress. Abiotic stress treatments incited changes in poly(A) site choice in a large number of genes. Interestingly, abiotic stresses led to the re-directing of transcriptional output into non-productive pathways defined by the class of poly(A) site utilized. This result revealed APA to be part of a larger global response of Sorghum to abiotic stresses that involves the re-direction of transcriptional output into non-productive transcriptional and translational pathways. Large numbers of stress-inducible poly(A) sites could not be linked with known, annotated genes, suggestive of the existence of numerous unidentified genes whose expression is strongly regulated by abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we uncovered a novel stress-specific cis-element in intronic poly(A) sites used in drought- and heat-stressed plants that might play an important role in non-canonical poly(A) site choice in response to abiotic stresses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manohar Chakrabarti
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Laura de Lorenzo
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Salah E Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Biology, and Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Anireddy S N Reddy
- Department of Biology, and Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Arthur G Hunt
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Shen T, Li H, Song Y, Li L, Lin J, Wei G, Ni T. Alternative polyadenylation dependent function of splicing factor SRSF3 contributes to cellular senescence. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:1356-1388. [PMID: 30835716 PMCID: PMC6428108 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Down-regulated splicing factor SRSF3 is known to promote cellular senescence, an important biological process in preventing cancer and contributing to individual aging, via its alternative splicing dependent function in human cells. Here we discovered alternative polyadenylation (APA) dependent function of SRSF3 as a novel mechanism explaining SRSF3 downregulation induced cellular senescence. Knockdown of SRSF3 resulted in preference usage of proximal poly(A) sites and thus global shortening of 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) of mRNAs. SRSF3-depletion also induced senescence-related phenotypes in both human and mouse cells. These 3′ UTR shortened genes were enriched in senescence-associated pathways. Shortened 3′ UTRs tended to produce more proteins than the longer ones. Simulating the effects of 3′ UTR shortening by overexpression of three candidate genes (PTEN, PIAS1 and DNMT3A) all led to senescence-associated phenotypes. Mechanistically, SRSF3 has higher binding density near proximal poly(A) site than distal one in 3′ UTR shortened genes. Further, upregulation of PTEN by either ectopic overexpression or SRSF3-knockdown induction both led to reduced phosphorylation of AKT and ultimately senescence-associated phenotypes. We revealed for the first time that reduced SRSF3 expression could promote cellular senescence through its APA-dependent function, largely extending our mechanistic understanding in splicing factor regulated cellular senescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Huan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yifang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jinzhong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Gang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Emerging Roles for 3' UTRs in Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103413. [PMID: 32408514 PMCID: PMC7279237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) of mRNAs serve as hubs for post-transcriptional control as the targets of microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Sequences in 3′ UTRs confer alterations in mRNA stability, direct mRNA localization to subcellular regions, and impart translational control. Thousands of mRNAs are localized to subcellular compartments in neurons—including axons, dendrites, and synapses—where they are thought to undergo local translation. Despite an established role for 3′ UTR sequences in imparting mRNA localization in neurons, the specific RNA sequences and structural features at play remain poorly understood. The nervous system selectively expresses longer 3′ UTR isoforms via alternative polyadenylation (APA). The regulation of APA in neurons and the neuronal functions of longer 3′ UTR mRNA isoforms are starting to be uncovered. Surprising roles for 3′ UTRs are emerging beyond the regulation of protein synthesis and include roles as RBP delivery scaffolds and regulators of alternative splicing. Evidence is also emerging that 3′ UTRs can be cleaved, leading to stable, isolated 3′ UTR fragments which are of unknown function. Mutations in 3′ UTRs are implicated in several neurological disorders—more studies are needed to uncover how these mutations impact gene regulation and what is their relationship to disease severity.
Collapse
|
34
|
Yuan F, Hankey W, Wagner EJ, Li W, Wang Q. Alternative polyadenylation of mRNA and its role in cancer. Genes Dis 2019; 8:61-72. [PMID: 33569514 PMCID: PMC7859462 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2019.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a molecular process that generates diversity at the 3′ end of RNA polymerase II transcripts from over 60% of human genes. APA is derived from the existence of multiple polyadenylation signals (PAS) within the same transcript, and results in the differential inclusion of sequence information at the 3′ end. While APA can occur between two PASs allowing for generation of transcripts with distinct coding potential from a single gene, most APA occurs within the untranslated region (3′UTR) and changes the length and content of these non-coding sequences. APA within the 3′UTR can have tremendous impact on its regulatory potential of the mRNA through a variety of mechanisms, and indeed this layer of gene expression regulation has profound impact on processes vital to cell growth and development. Recent studies have particularly highlighted the importance of APA dysregulation in cancer onset and progression. Here, we review the current knowledge of APA and its impacts on mRNA stability, translation, localization and protein localization. We also discuss the implications of APA dysregulation in cancer research and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fuwen Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - William Hankey
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Eric J Wagner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Qianben Wang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.,Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Yoon Y, Klomp J, Martin-Martin I, Criscione F, Calvo E, Ribeiro J, Schmidt-Ott U. Embryo polarity in moth flies and mosquitoes relies on distinct old genes with localized transcript isoforms. eLife 2019; 8:e46711. [PMID: 31591963 PMCID: PMC6783274 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Unrelated genes establish head-to-tail polarity in embryos of different fly species, raising the question of how they evolve this function. We show that in moth flies (Clogmia, Lutzomyia), a maternal transcript isoform of odd-paired (Zic) is localized in the anterior egg and adopted the role of anterior determinant without essential protein change. Additionally, Clogmia lost maternal germ plasm, which contributes to embryo polarity in fruit flies (Drosophila). In culicine (Culex, Aedes) and anopheline mosquitoes (Anopheles), embryo polarity rests on a previously unnamed zinc finger gene (cucoid), or pangolin (dTcf), respectively. These genes also localize an alternative transcript isoform at the anterior egg pole. Basal-branching crane flies (Nephrotoma) also enrich maternal pangolin transcript at the anterior egg pole, suggesting that pangolin functioned as ancestral axis determinant in flies. In conclusion, flies evolved an unexpected diversity of anterior determinants, and alternative transcript isoforms with distinct expression can adopt fundamentally distinct developmental roles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoseop Yoon
- Department of Organismal Biology and AnatomyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Jeff Klomp
- Department of Organismal Biology and AnatomyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Ines Martin-Martin
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector ResearchNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesRockvilleUnited States
| | - Frank Criscione
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector ResearchNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesRockvilleUnited States
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector ResearchNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesRockvilleUnited States
| | - Jose Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector ResearchNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesRockvilleUnited States
| | - Urs Schmidt-Ott
- Department of Organismal Biology and AnatomyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Shin J, Cheng H, Tian B. New means to an end: mRNA export activity impacts alternative polyadenylation. Transcription 2019; 10:207-211. [PMID: 31474181 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2019.1658557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression involves multiple co- and post-transcriptional processes that have been increasingly found intertwined. A recent work by our groups (Chen et al. Mol Cell, 2019) indicates that expression of alternative polyadenylation isoforms in mammalian cells can be controlled by nuclear export activities. This regulation has distinct impacts on genes having different sizes and nucleotide contents, and involves RNA polymerase II distribution toward the 3' end of genes. This work raises a number of intriguing questions concerning how 3' end processing and nuclear export are integrated and how their regulation feeds back to transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jihae Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Hong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Yu S, Jordán-Pla A, Gañez-Zapater A, Jain S, Rolicka A, Östlund Farrants AK, Visa N. SWI/SNF interacts with cleavage and polyadenylation factors and facilitates pre-mRNA 3' end processing. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:8557-8573. [PMID: 29860334 PMCID: PMC6144808 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
SWI/SNF complexes associate with genes and regulate transcription by altering the chromatin at the promoter. It has recently been shown that these complexes play a role in pre-mRNA processing by associating at alternative splice sites. Here, we show that SWI/SNF complexes are involved also in pre-mRNA 3′ end maturation by facilitating 3′ end cleavage of specific pre-mRNAs. Comparative proteomics show that SWI/SNF ATPases interact physically with subunits of the cleavage and polyadenylation complexes in fly and human cells. In Drosophila melanogaster, the SWI/SNF ATPase Brahma (dBRM) interacts with the CPSF6 subunit of cleavage factor I. We have investigated the function of dBRM in 3′ end formation in S2 cells by RNA interference, single-gene analysis and RNA sequencing. Our data show that dBRM facilitates pre-mRNA cleavage in two different ways: by promoting the association of CPSF6 to the cleavage region and by stabilizing positioned nucleosomes downstream of the cleavage site. These findings show that SWI/SNF complexes play a role also in the cleavage of specific pre-mRNAs in animal cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simei Yu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonio Jordán-Pla
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antoni Gañez-Zapater
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shruti Jain
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Rolicka
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann-Kristin Östlund Farrants
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neus Visa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cell Cycle Kinase Polo Is Controlled by a Widespread 3' Untranslated Region Regulatory Sequence in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Cell Biol 2019; 39:MCB.00581-18. [PMID: 31085682 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00581-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation generates transcriptomic diversity, although the physiological impact and regulatory mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. The cell cycle kinase Polo is controlled by alternative polyadenylation in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR), with critical physiological consequences. Here, we characterized the molecular mechanisms required for polo alternative polyadenylation. We identified a conserved upstream sequence element (USE) close to the polo proximal poly(A) signal. Transgenic flies without this sequence show incorrect selection of polo poly(A) signals with consequent downregulation of Polo expression levels and insufficient/defective activation of Polo kinetochore targets Mps1 and Aurora B. Deletion of the USE results in abnormal mitoses in neuroblasts, revealing a role for this sequence in vivo We found that Hephaestus binds to the USE RNA and that hephaestus mutants display defects in polo alternative polyadenylation concomitant with a striking reduction in Polo protein levels, leading to mitotic errors and aneuploidy. Bioinformatic analyses show that the USE is preferentially localized upstream of noncanonical polyadenylation signals in Drosophila melanogaster genes. Taken together, our results revealed the molecular mechanisms involved in polo alternative polyadenylation, with remarkable physiological functions in Polo expression and activity at the kinetochores, and disclosed a new in vivo function for USEs in Drosophila melanogaster.
Collapse
|
39
|
Shah N, Maqbool MA, Yahia Y, El Aabidine AZ, Esnault C, Forné I, Decker TM, Martin D, Schüller R, Krebs S, Blum H, Imhof A, Eick D, Andrau JC. Tyrosine-1 of RNA Polymerase II CTD Controls Global Termination of Gene Transcription in Mammals. Mol Cell 2018; 69:48-61.e6. [PMID: 29304333 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase (Pol) II is composed of a repetition of YSPTSPS heptads and functions as a loading platform for protein complexes that regulate transcription, splicing, and maturation of RNAs. Here, we studied mammalian CTD mutants to analyze the function of tyrosine1 residues in the transcription cycle. Mutation of 3/4 of the tyrosine residues (YFFF mutant) resulted in a massive read-through transcription phenotype in the antisense direction of promoters as well as in the 3' direction several hundred kilobases downstream of genes. The YFFF mutant shows reduced Pol II at promoter-proximal pause sites, a loss of interaction with the Mediator and Integrator complexes, and impaired recruitment of these complexes to chromatin. Consistent with these observations, Pol II loading at enhancers and maturation of snRNAs are altered in the YFFF context genome-wide. We conclude that tyrosine1 residues of the CTD control termination of transcription by Pol II.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Shah
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Muhammad Ahmad Maqbool
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Yousra Yahia
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Amal Zine El Aabidine
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Cyril Esnault
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Ignasi Forné
- Biomedical Center Munich, ZFP, Großhaderner Strasse 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Tim-Michael Decker
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - David Martin
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Roland Schüller
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Krebs
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel Imhof
- Biomedical Center Munich, ZFP, Großhaderner Strasse 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dirk Eick
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Jean-Christophe Andrau
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Long-read sequencing uncovers a complex transcriptome topology in varicella zoster virus. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:873. [PMID: 30514211 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5267-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a human pathogenic alphaherpesvirus harboring a relatively large DNA molecule. The VZV transcriptome has already been analyzed by microarray and short-read sequencing analyses. However, both approaches have substantial limitations when used for structural characterization of transcript isoforms, even if supplemented with primer extension or other techniques. Among others, they are inefficient in distinguishing between embedded RNA molecules, transcript isoforms, including splice and length variants, as well as between alternative polycistronic transcripts. It has been demonstrated in several studies that long-read sequencing is able to circumvent these problems. RESULTS In this work, we report the analysis of the VZV lytic transcriptome using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. These investigations have led to the identification of 114 novel transcripts, including mRNAs, non-coding RNAs, polycistronic RNAs and complex transcripts, as well as 10 novel spliced transcripts and 25 novel transcription start site isoforms and transcription end site isoforms. A novel class of transcripts, the nroRNAs are described in this study. These transcripts are encoded by the genomic region located in close vicinity to the viral replication origin. We also show that the ORF63 exhibits a complex structural variation encompassing the splice sites of VZV latency transcripts. Additionally, we have detected RNA editing in a novel non-coding RNA molecule. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations disclosed a composite transcriptomic architecture of VZV, including the discovery of novel RNA molecules and transcript isoforms, as well as a complex meshwork of transcriptional read-throughs and overlaps. The results represent a substantial advance in the annotation of the VZV transcriptome and in understanding the molecular biology of the herpesviruses in general.
Collapse
|
41
|
Identification and Characterization of Transcripts Regulated by Circadian Alternative Polyadenylation in Mouse Liver. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2018; 8:3539-3548. [PMID: 30181259 PMCID: PMC6222568 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic control of gene expression is a hallmark of the circadian system. In mouse liver, approximately 5–20% of RNAs are expressed rhythmically, and over 50% of mouse genes are rhythmically expressed in at least one tissue. Recent genome-wide analyses unveiled that, in addition to rhythmic transcription, various post-transcriptional mechanisms play crucial roles in driving rhythmic gene expression. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is an emerging post-transcriptional mechanism that changes the 3′-ends of transcripts by alternating poly(A) site usage. APA can thus result in changes in RNA processing, such as mRNA localization, stability, translation efficiency, and sometimes even in the localization of the encoded protein. It remains unclear, however, if and how APA is regulated by the circadian clock. To address this, we used an in silico approach and demonstrated in mouse liver that 57.4% of expressed genes undergo APA and each gene has 2.53 poly(A) sites on average. Among all expressed genes, 2.9% of genes alternate their poly(A) site usage with a circadian (i.e., approximately 24 hr) period. APA transcripts use distal sites with canonical poly(A) signals (PASs) more frequently; however, circadian APA transcripts exhibit less distinct usage preference between proximal and distal sites and use proximal sites more frequently. Circadian APA transcripts also harbor longer 3′UTRs, making them more susceptible to post-transcriptional regulation. Overall, our study serves as a platform to ultimately understand the mechanisms of circadian APA regulation.
Collapse
|
42
|
Targeting the Polyadenylation Signal of Pre-mRNA: A New Gene Silencing Approach for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051347. [PMID: 29751519 PMCID: PMC5983732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by the contraction of the D4Z4 array located in the sub-telomeric region of the chromosome 4, leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor and the mis-regulation of hundreds of genes. Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed among which the possibility to target the polyadenylation signal to silence the causative gene of the disease. Indeed, defects in mRNA polyadenylation leads to an alteration of the transcription termination, a disruption of mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm decreasing the mRNA stability and translation efficiency. This review discusses the polyadenylation mechanisms, why alternative polyadenylation impacts gene expression, and how targeting polyadenylation signal may be a potential therapeutic approach for FSHD.
Collapse
|
43
|
Boukhatmi H, Bray S. A population of adult satellite-like cells in Drosophila is maintained through a switch in RNA-isoforms. eLife 2018; 7:35954. [PMID: 29629869 PMCID: PMC5919756 DOI: 10.7554/elife.35954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult stem cells are important for tissue maintenance and repair. One key question is how such cells are specified and then protected from differentiation for a prolonged period. Investigating the maintenance of Drosophila muscle progenitors (MPs) we demonstrate that it involves a switch in zfh1/ZEB1 RNA-isoforms. Differentiation into functional muscles is accompanied by expression of miR-8/miR-200, which targets the major zfh1-long RNA isoform and decreases Zfh1 protein. Through activity of the Notch pathway, a subset of MPs produce an alternate zfh1-short isoform, which lacks the miR-8 seed site. Zfh1 protein is thus maintained in these cells, enabling them to escape differentiation and persist as MPs in the adult. There, like mammalian satellite cells, they contribute to muscle homeostasis. Such preferential regulation of a specific RNA isoform, with differential sensitivity to miRs, is a powerful mechanism for maintaining a population of poised progenitors and may be of widespread significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Boukhatmi
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Bray
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Anvar SY, Allard G, Tseng E, Sheynkman GM, de Klerk E, Vermaat M, Yin RH, Johansson HE, Ariyurek Y, den Dunnen JT, Turner SW, 't Hoen PAC. Full-length mRNA sequencing uncovers a widespread coupling between transcription initiation and mRNA processing. Genome Biol 2018; 19:46. [PMID: 29598823 PMCID: PMC5877393 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1418-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The multifaceted control of gene expression requires tight coordination of regulatory mechanisms at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Here, we studied the interdependence of transcription initiation, splicing and polyadenylation events on single mRNA molecules by full-length mRNA sequencing. Results In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we find 2700 genes with interdependent alternative transcription initiation, splicing and polyadenylation events, both in proximal and distant parts of mRNA molecules, including examples of coupling between transcription start sites and polyadenylation sites. The analysis of three human primary tissues (brain, heart and liver) reveals similar patterns of interdependency between transcription initiation and mRNA processing events. We predict thousands of novel open reading frames from full-length mRNA sequences and obtained evidence for their translation by shotgun proteomics. The mapping database rescues 358 previously unassigned peptides and improves the assignment of others. By recognizing sample-specific amino-acid changes and novel splicing patterns, full-length mRNA sequencing improves proteogenomics analysis of MCF-7 cells. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that our understanding of transcriptome complexity is far from complete and provides a basis to reveal largely unresolved mechanisms that coordinate transcription initiation and mRNA processing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13059-018-1418-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Yahya Anvar
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands. .,Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands. .,Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.
| | - Guy Allard
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Tseng
- Pacific Biosciences, 1305 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB) and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Eleonora de Klerk
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143-0534, USA
| | - Martijn Vermaat
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.,Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Raymund H Yin
- LGC Biosearch Technologies, Petaluma, CA, 94954-6904, USA
| | | | - Yavuz Ariyurek
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.,Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Johan T den Dunnen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.,Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen W Turner
- Pacific Biosciences, 1305 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Peter A C 't Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.,Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Jereb S, Hwang HW, Van Otterloo E, Govek EE, Fak JJ, Yuan Y, Hatten ME, Darnell RB. Differential 3' Processing of Specific Transcripts Expands Regulatory and Protein Diversity Across Neuronal Cell Types. eLife 2018; 7:34042. [PMID: 29578408 PMCID: PMC5898910 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulates mRNA translation, stability, and protein localization. However, it is unclear to what extent APA regulates these processes uniquely in specific cell types. Using a new technique, cTag-PAPERCLIP, we discovered significant differences in APA between the principal types of mouse cerebellar neurons, the Purkinje and granule cells, as well as between proliferating and differentiated granule cells. Transcripts that differed in APA in these comparisons were enriched in key neuronal functions and many differed in coding sequence in addition to 3’UTR length. We characterize Memo1, a transcript that shifted from expressing a short 3’UTR isoform to a longer one during granule cell differentiation. We show that Memo1 regulates granule cell precursor proliferation and that its long 3’UTR isoform is targeted by miR-124, contributing to its downregulation during development. Our findings provide insight into roles for APA in specific cell types and establish a platform for further functional studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saša Jereb
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Hun-Way Hwang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Eric Van Otterloo
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States
| | - Eve-Ellen Govek
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - John J Fak
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Mary E Hatten
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Robert B Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Saldi T, Fong N, Bentley DL. Transcription elongation rate affects nascent histone pre-mRNA folding and 3' end processing. Genes Dev 2018; 32:297-308. [PMID: 29483154 PMCID: PMC5859970 DOI: 10.1101/gad.310896.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Saldi et al. investigated how transcription elongation rate influences cotranscriptional pre-mRNA maturation. Their findings show that regulation of transcription speed can modulate pre-mRNA processing by changing nascent RNA structure and suggest a mechanism by which alternative processing could be controlled. Transcription elongation rate influences cotranscriptional pre-mRNA maturation, but how such kinetic coupling works is poorly understood. The formation of nonadenylated histone mRNA 3′ ends requires recognition of an RNA structure by stem–loop-binding protein (SLBP). We report that slow transcription by mutant RNA polymerase II (Pol II) caused accumulation of polyadenylated histone mRNAs that extend past the stem–loop processing site. UV irradiation, which decelerates Pol II elongation, also induced long poly(A)+ histone transcripts. Inhibition of 3′ processing by slow Pol II correlates with failure to recruit SLBP to histone genes. Chemical probing of nascent RNA structure showed that the stem–loop fails to fold in transcripts made by slow Pol II, thereby explaining the absence of SLBP and failure to process 3′ ends. These results show that regulation of transcription speed can modulate pre-mRNA processing by changing nascent RNA structure and suggest a mechanism by which alternative processing could be controlled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tassa Saldi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Nova Fong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - David L Bentley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
West SM, Mecenas D, Gutwein M, Aristizábal-Corrales D, Piano F, Gunsalus KC. Developmental dynamics of gene expression and alternative polyadenylation in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Genome Biol 2018; 19:8. [PMID: 29368663 PMCID: PMC5784609 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-017-1369-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs play a major role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Selection of transcript cleavage and polyadenylation sites is a dynamic process that produces multiple transcript isoforms for the same gene within and across different cell types. Using LITE-Seq, a new quantitative method to capture transcript 3' ends expressed in vivo, we have characterized sex- and cell type-specific transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression and 3'UTR diversity in Caenorhabditis elegans germline cells undergoing proliferation and differentiation. RESULTS We show that nearly half of germline transcripts are alternatively polyadenylated, that differential regulation of endogenous 3'UTR variants is common, and that alternative isoforms direct distinct spatiotemporal protein expression patterns in vivo. Dynamic expression profiling also reveals temporal regulation of X-linked gene expression, selective stabilization of transcripts, and strong evidence for a novel developmental program that promotes nucleolar dissolution in oocytes. We show that the RNA-binding protein NCL-1/Brat is a posttranscriptional regulator of numerous ribosome-related transcripts that acts through specific U-rich binding motifs to down-regulate mRNAs encoding ribosomal protein subunits, rRNA processing factors, and tRNA synthetases. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the pervasive nature and functional potential of patterned gene and isoform expression during early animal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M West
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Desirea Mecenas
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Michelle Gutwein
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - David Aristizábal-Corrales
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Fabio Piano
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA.
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, NYU Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Kristin C Gunsalus
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA.
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, NYU Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Antisense transcription regulates the expression of sense gene via alternative polyadenylation. Protein Cell 2017; 9:540-552. [PMID: 29273853 PMCID: PMC5966356 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-017-0497-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural antisense transcripts (NAT) and alternative polyadenylation (APA) of messenger RNA (mRNA) are important contributors of transcriptome complexity, each playing a critical role in multiple biological processes. However, whether they have crosstalk and function collaboratively is unclear. We discovered that APA enriched in human sense-antisense (S-AS) gene pairs, and finally focused on RNASEH2C-KAT5 S-AS pair for further study. In cis but not in trans over-expression of the antisense KAT5 gene promoted the usage of distal polyA (pA) site in sense gene RNASEH2C, which generated longer 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) and produced less protein, accompanying with slowed cell growth. Mechanistically, elevated Pol II occupancy coupled with SRSF3 could explain the higher usage of distal pA site. Finally, NAT-mediated downregulation of sense gene's protein level in RNASEH2C-KAT5 pair was specific for human rather than mouse, which lacks the distal pA site of RNASEH2C. We provided the first evidence to support that certain gene affected phenotype may not by the protein of its own, but by affecting the expression of its overlapped gene through APA, implying an unexpected view for understanding the link between genotype and phenotype.
Collapse
|
49
|
Liu X, Freitas J, Zheng D, Oliveira MS, Hoque M, Martins T, Henriques T, Tian B, Moreira A. Transcription elongation rate has a tissue-specific impact on alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in Drosophila melanogaster. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:1807-1816. [PMID: 28851752 PMCID: PMC5689002 DOI: 10.1261/rna.062661.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a mechanism that generates multiple mRNA isoforms with different 3'UTRs and/or coding sequences from a single gene. Here, using 3' region extraction and deep sequencing (3'READS), we have systematically mapped cleavage and polyadenylation sites (PASs) in Drosophila melanogaster, expanding the total repertoire of PASs previously identified for the species, especially those located in A-rich genomic sequences. Cis-element analysis revealed distinct sequence motifs around fly PASs when compared to mammalian ones, including the greater enrichment of upstream UAUA elements and the less prominent presence of downstream UGUG elements. We found that over 75% of mRNA genes in Drosophila melanogaster undergo APA. The head tissue tends to use distal PASs when compared to the body, leading to preferential expression of APA isoforms with long 3'UTRs as well as with distal terminal exons. The distance between the APA sites and intron location of PAS are important parameters for APA difference between body and head, suggesting distinct PAS selection contexts. APA analysis of the RpII215C4 mutant strain, which harbors a mutant RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) with a slower elongation rate, revealed that a 50% decrease in transcriptional elongation rate leads to a mild trend of more usage of proximal, weaker PASs, both in 3'UTRs and in introns, consistent with the "first come, first served" model of APA regulation. However, this trend was not observed in the head, suggesting a different regulatory context in neuronal cells. Together, our data expand the PAS collection for Drosophila melanogaster and reveal a tissue-specific effect of APA regulation by RNAPII elongation rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochuan Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
| | - Jaime Freitas
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Dinghai Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
| | - Marta S Oliveira
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mainul Hoque
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
| | - Torcato Martins
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Telmo Henriques
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bin Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
| | - Alexandra Moreira
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-013 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Alternative Polyadenylation: Methods, Findings, and Impacts. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2017; 15:287-300. [PMID: 29031844 PMCID: PMC5673674 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alternative polyadenylation (APA), a phenomenon that RNA molecules with different 3' ends originate from distinct polyadenylation sites of a single gene, is emerging as a mechanism widely used to regulate gene expression. In the present review, we first summarized various methods prevalently adopted in APA study, mainly focused on the next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based techniques specially designed for APA identification, the related bioinformatics methods, and the strategies for APA study in single cells. Then we summarized the main findings and advances so far based on these methods, including the preferences of alternative polyA (pA) site, the biological processes involved, and the corresponding consequences. We especially categorized the APA changes discovered so far and discussed their potential functions under given conditions, along with the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. With more in-depth studies on extensive samples, more signatures and functions of APA will be revealed, and its diverse roles will gradually heave in sight.
Collapse
|